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Caribbean universities strategize to reduce regional food import bill

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Caribbean universities from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, with faculties responsible for agriculture and or food, have agreed to partner with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to support reductions in the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

The Anton de Kom University of Suriname is due to join the initiative.

CARICOM leaders have made the reduction in the food import bill, estimated at billions of US dollars, a major priority and the initiative is being led by Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali, who has lead responsibility for Agriculture in the quasi CARICOM cabinet.

During a virtual meeting hosted by the Faculty of Food and Agriculture of the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), the universities noted that regional annual food imports amounted to US $4.3 billion, for the period 2018-2020, excluding Haiti.

They noted that despite the fact that the Ministerial Task Force at its recent meeting had reported that the region had “met 57 per cent of the 25 per cent targeted reduction in food imports”, significant efforts remain.

They noted further that, with their collective human capital and sources of innovation and hubs for technological and knowledge development, a very powerful contribution could be expected.

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The universities have invited the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) which was represented at the virtual meeting by Ruel Edwards, Senior Technical Expert, to explain the details of the “25 by 2025 Initiative” particularly identifying the prioritized commodity groups and progress to date.

“Accordingly, seven commodity groups were described: cereals and staples; meat products; edible vegetables, fruits and nuts; milk and cream; beverages; fish products and crustaceans; and honey as also the initiation of the detailed preparation of business investment cases for the 19 commodities within the groups to support potential investment opportunities approximating US$1.17 billion.”

Deans, Dr. Lawrence Lewis, Professor Marlon Knight, and Professor Mark Wuddivira representing the Universities of Guyana, Trinidad, and Tobago, and UWI, respectively, described the overwhelming research, innovation, and teaching products being conducted by each of their institutions and recognized the immense benefits to be obtained for themselves, CPSO and the region from their closer collaboration.

Former regional director of Operations, the Caribbean for Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the former executive director of the Caribbean Agricultural Development Institute (CARDI), Dr. Arlington Chesney, who served as the lead discussant, said the meetings will continue regularly to facilitate their meaningful contribution to the achievement of the 25×2025 Initiative and the Universities of Bahamas and Belize will be invited by UWI to join the group.

In addition, the group intends to share a listing of their projects, especially in the areas of protected agriculture, corn, roots and tubers, and dairy: commodities in which at least two universities are conducting research and /or developmental activities and which are amongst the 19 identified in the 25×2025 Initiative.

They will also share a listing of their staff and their individual skill set to enable the development of technical working subgroups and work to develop a proactive public relations program.

Chesney said also the universities intend to prioritize the commodities for which business investment cases would be prepared to develop bankable and/or developmental projects for implementation by agencies, including the universities.

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

 

OECS MSME Guarantee Facility Project

Loan No.: IDA-62670, IDA-62660, IDA-62640, IBRD-88830, IDA-62650

Assignment Title: Senior Operating Officer (SOO)

Reference No. KN-ECPCGC-207852-CS-INDV

 

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received financing in the amount of US$10 million equivalent from the World Bank towards the cost of establishing a partial credit guarantee scheme, and they intend to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The consultant will serve as the “Senior Operating Officer (SOO)” for the ECPCGC and should possess extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to Micro, small and medium-sized businesses, knowledge of the internal control processes necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk mitigation procedures. The ideal candidate should possess an Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Accounting, Banking or related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in lending, inclusive of MSME lending. The initial employment period will be for two years on a contractual basis. Renewal of the contract will be subject to a performance evaluation at the end of the contractual period. The assignment is expected to begin on September 30th, 2021.  The consultant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ECPCGC.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be viewed by following the attached link below. 

 

https://bit.ly/3iVannm

 

The Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC) now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have:

  • An Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Finance, Banking or related field; and
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in MSME lending. Applicants should also have:
  • The ability to design and implement risk management procedures 
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to small and medium-sized businesses
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME banking operations
  • Knowledge of the internal controls necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk management procedures
  • Experience developing and presenting information in public, including responding to questions in real-time
  • Experience lending to MSMEs located in the ECCU
  • Knowledge of marketing and communicating with the MSME sector
  • Ability to draft procedures to be used in a lending operation
  • Familiarity with the mechanics of a loan guarantee program
  • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite.

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, [revised November 2017] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Approved Selection Method for Individual Consultants set out in the clause 7.34 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1700 hours:

Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation

Brid Rock, Basseterre,

St. Kitts.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form by e-mail by August 11th, 2021, to [email protected]

 

For further information, please contact:

Carmen Gomez-Trigg                                                            Bernard Thomas

Chief Executive Officer                                                          Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 868-620-8144                                                                  Tel: 869-765-2385

Email: [email protected]                                          [email protected]